Research and Reports

The many benefits of trees are science-based and backed by research.

Eureka! A Transformative Approach to Sustaining California’s Urban Forests A report released by California ReLeaf in April 2014 which looks closely at viable funding options for urban forestry and how to ensure no net loss of urban tree canopies, despite continual growth and development in California. Because of the size of this document, the Executive Summary is linked from the title and the full report can be downloaded in Sections.

Environmental Scan of Urban Forest Opportunities in California Conservation Strategy Group (CSG) assisted California ReLeaf in the Environmental Scan of Urban Forest Opportunities in California project, funded by a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Report completed May 2011.

Green Cities: Good Health, from the University of Washington, provides a wealth of scientific evidence that supports efforts to better plan, implement, and manage nature in cities. This site contains research findings on a variety of themes including livable cities, community building, local economics, place attachment and meaning, crime and fear, safe streets, active living, reduced risk, wellness and physiology, healing and therapy, mental health and function, working and learning, and lifecycle and gender.

Human Dimensions of Urban Forestry and Urban Greening features research at the University of Washington on people’s perceptions and behaviors regarding nature in cities. The site addresses the following topics: nature and consumer environments, trees and transportation, civic ecology, and policy and planning. Materials include fact sheets, professional publications, and scientific articles.

Landscape and Human Health Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a multidisciplinary research laboratory dedicated to studying the connection between greenery and human health. This web site contains multiple reports about the impacts of natural features—trees, grass, flowers, and green spaces—on public health issues such as safety, crime, violence, and aggression; strength of community; well-being, coping, and vitality; attention, executive-functions, self-control, and learning.

U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station. The Pacific Southwest Research Station is part of the USDA Forest Service Research and Design program, and conducts ecological and social science research to understand ecosystems, how humans influence those systems, and how to manage for sustained and enhanced benefits. Research program areas include Conservation of Biodiversity, Ecosystem Function and Health, Fire and Fuels, and Urban Ecosystems & Social Dynamics.